Do fakes and forgeries have a legitimate place in the art world?

The answer to that question may surprise you when internationally known philosopher Dr. Cynthia Freeland delivers her thoughts on the subject to West Virginia University this week.

Freeland, an author, art-watcher and philosophy chair at the University of Houston, will discussWhy Fakes Matterat 8 p.m. Thursday (April 7) in the Gold Ballroom of the Mountaineer.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

Shes the author of several scholarly and mainstream books on art that look at everything from ancient cave-paintings to Andy Warhols soup cans.

Freeland will discuss her book-in-progress,Fakes and Forgeries: Values in the Arts,and past books includingBut is it Art?andThe Naked and the Undead: Evil and the Appeal of Horror.

Her visit is sponsored by the WVU s Department of Philosophy in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences.